Reading outside of the classroom is critical for maintaining and expanding a child’s literacy skills.

In an effort to keep momentum strong for early childhood literacy during the summer months, the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District has distributed Summer Reading Backpacks to all first grade level students.

“The distribution of reading backpacks to our first grade students falls in line with our Call to Action for literacy and is an effort to foster independent reading in our students by facilitating their access to books,” said Dr. Art Cavazos. “We hope that this gift to our students will keep their minds active and create an excitement for reading. I encourage our families across the district to promote literacy in their homes throughout the summer break.”

Included in the backpack are: 10 books, a story journal to encourage creative writing, two pencils, and a postcard, which will be used to enter students into a raffle at the beginning of the next school year. Students participating in the dual language program or the bilingual program received both English and Spanish books.

The goal of the program is to provide students additional tools to help them strengthen their reading comprehension, vocabulary and critical thinking skills during the summer along with giving families the opportunity to spend quality time with each other.